Cylinder construction



Aug. 31,1948. R. A.'KASER CYLINDER consmucmou Filed Aug 50, 1945 IN V ENTOR.

Patented Aug. 31, 1948 2,448,26fi

UNITED STATES P TENT oFFlce CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION Robert A. Kaser,Chicago, Ill. Application August so, 1945, Serial No. 613,502

Claims. (01. 309-42) This invention relates to the construction of as atA on entional landing wheel I4 is e extended end of the spring I2.

cylinders, particularly of the type conventionally mounted 011 th usedin shock absorbers or the like. While the The Operation o the Shock h er90 mounted invention will be disclosed in the environment of Positionedwill b apparent to those familiar a shock absorber for an aircraft itwill be obvi- 5 with t ns u n of a pl or other ous from the descriptionthat the invention has hieleesubstantially broader application and maybe The details of the Construction Of the y adapted to avariety ofdifierent uses, der are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. A cylin- In theparticular field with hi h th desc fipdrical tube it forms the mainelement. As tion is concerned, to Wlt that of a shock absorber Shown,this y be Substantially filled with cylinder, there have been a wid i tf typgs it or other hydraulic fluid. The tube l5 has outof constructionemployed. Since a structural weirdly fierededge po s It at each endtherefailure may cause a serious accident, shock ab- Considering the e eof t tube Shown at sorber cylinders for aircraft have almost invarthefight Figures 2 and the end Closure C 'p iably been of a strong andheavy constru ti ll is inserted in the open end of the tube andemploying various types of reenforcing, costly hers tapered Ou Surfacesadapted o engage manufacturing operations, and careful fitting and withth flared edges of the tube. The end cap ll likewise has edges H] whichextend beyond assembly.

'The primary object of the present invention has the tube and Which etapered in a se been to provide a cylinder of this type which willrection from the edges 18 providing an angular be much lighter in weightthan those now availflange 9 extending peripherally around the cap able,which may be manufactured quickly and s pport ns t i n su s o a mpcheaply from ordinary materials readily avail- This clamp, which isshown in detail in Figure I able and, which requires minimum of fitting4, comprises clamp elements in the form of a, and assembly operations.split ring secured together by attachment means Other mor specificobjects 111 be apparent 22. The tightening of these attachment meansfrom the further and more detailed descriptio secures the clamp firmlyaround the angular of the pref-erred embodiment of the invention asflange shown in the drawings in which: Sealing rings formed of rubberand of the Figure 1 is a view of the tail assembly of 30 type known as 0rings are disposed peripherally aircraft showing the cylinder of theinvention as of the tube and the p e n a t in pr forming a component p tof shock absorber ing a seal between the outer surface of the end forthe rear landing wheel, cap and the inner surface of the tube, and theFigure 2 is a sectional view through the cyltime! Surface the end p athe P inder with the plunger in retracted position parn the end cap llat the right in Figures 2 and ticularly illustrating th d tafls ofconstruction 3 these rings have been designated 23 and 24, Figure 3 is aView similar to Figure 2 showing respectively A m l g i ut n c theplunger in fully advanced position nection with the left-hand end cap,the details Figure 4 is a sectional View along the line 4-4, of whi h wll b described s s q nt y- Figure 2. 40 The plunger is or comparativelyconventional In the particular installation selected as cons tion andcomprises a cylindrical h stituting a preferred embodiment of theinvenmember 25 d a h portion The 37 tion the shock absorber is or thhydraulic or drical. member 25 is inserted into the cylinder 15 oleotype. However, since .the invention is prithrough a bore in the d pmember The marily concerned with the construction of the 4;, front edgeOf th head portion s confisurated cylinder itself, the mode of operationwill be exform the extended nose POrtS 28 are plained only for thepurpose of demonstrating formed around the p p y of t 1105c portion theutility of the construction, 7 for the entrance of oil into the pistonas it moves In Figure 1 the cylinder, representing a preforward on itsstroke. The head portion of the ferred embodiment of the invention, isindicated 59 piston may be pinned to the tube 25 by the pin 29.generally at Ill and is illustrated in mounted po- At the right-hand endof the tubular piston sition as at H on struts of the tail assembly oiportion 25 a fluid and air tight joint is fo m an A depending p g I2 isS ow with the connecting collar 38. In the form ly m nted on theaircraft and an end of the shown, this element includes an outercylindrical cylinder 10 is pivotally secured to the spring l2 shell iii,an interior gasket of rubber or the like 3 32 disposed between the shell3! and bearing 33. Within this bearing 38 a shaft 3 3 provides a meanson which the shock absorber pivots when in attached position.

The left-hand end closure member 35 is of similar construction to theright-hand member ll except that an interior space 36 is defined by theshoulders 3's and is of a width to permit the entrance of the noseportion 27 of the piston when the latter is at the end of its stroke. Asealing ring 33 is disposed between the inner surface of the cylinderand the outer surface of the closure member. Bore 38 formed in anextension cf the lefthand end cap permits pivotal attachment of themember, or alternatively, may be utilized to attach a tube to the end ofthe unit.

In the operation of the device, as the plunger commences its stroke theoil within the cylinder 55 is forced through the ports 28 into thepiston cylinder 25, but since the ports are restricted in size acontinuous cushion is provided which makes a very effective shockabsorber for uses such as in conjunction with the landing Wheel of anaircraft.

Another pair of ports ll are provided in the plunger Wall behind thepiston head it. In the forward stroke these ports function to siphon oilback int the cylinder from the plunger, where as in the return strokethe operation is reversed and the ports become outlet ports and theports iii are inlet ports.

At the completion of the stroke the plunger will return to the positionshown in Figure 2 by gravity or spring means such as 12, Figure 1, maybe utilized.

The invention resides primarily in the construction of the main cylinderit. This may be formed of light metal such as aluminum and the insidemay be furnished. with an "appropriate burnishing tool prior to assemblythereby dispensing with the expensive machining operations which areconventional in some types of cylinders. The end cap members may befabricated by the use of conventional machinery and tools and may alsobe formed of comparatively light metal. The provision of the jointbetween the flared ends of the tubing and the end cap members held inposition by the clamps provides an exceedingly tight and secure closurebut at the same time does not add greatly to the weight of the completedstructure. Effective sealing action is provided by the rings which. itwill be noted are subject to a degree of compression upon tightening ofthe clamps. The characteristic rolling and extending action of the 0rings under hydraulic pressure also assists in the sealing action.

The structure is one which can be manufactured quickly and cheaply butwhich is very efficient in operation.

Obviously, various changes and adaptations may be made in the cylinderconstruction without departing from the scope of the invention as hereindescribed.

I-Iaving fully described the invention, I claim:

1. In a shock absorber, a cylindrical tube having its end edges flaredoutwardly, an end cap member adapted to be inserted in an end of thetube, said end cap member having outer surfaces coinciding in contourwith the flared edges of the tube and having a portion thereof extendingbeyond the end of the tube, a clamp extending Z peripherally around theend of the tube, said clamp engaging the end cap member and the end ofthe tube for holding the cap member sesurely positioned in the tube.

Cylinder construction comprising a tubular member having its end edgesflared outwardly, end cap members for closing the ends of said tubularmember, said end cap members having outer surfaces coinciding in contourwith the flared edges of the tube and having portions extending beyondthe ends of the tube, sealing gaskets disposed between the end capmembers and the tube and clamps extending peripherally around the endsof the tube and engaging the flared ends thereof and the portions of theend caps extending beyond said flared ends.

3. In a shock absorber, a tubular member having end edges flaredoutwardly, an end closure member inserted within the tubular member andhaving outer surfaces coinciding in contour with the inner surface ofthe end of tubular member, said end closure member having a portionextending beyond the end of the tubular member, clamp secured to thetubular member and to the portion of the end closure member ex endingbeyond the end of the tubular memher, said end closure member having abore formed in the central portion thereof, and a plunger inserted insaid bore.

In a cylinder for shock absorbers or the like, a cylindrical tube havingits end edges flared out-- wardly, an end closure member inserted withinhe tube and having outer surfaces coinciding with the flared edges ofthe tube, a portion of said end closure member extending beyond the endof the tube, a clamp extending peripherally around the tube and engagingthe portion of the end closure member extending beyond the end of thetube, and means for tightening the clamp to maintain the end closuremember securely positioned the tube.

'5. Cylinder construction comprising a hollow tubular member having ende es flared outwardly, end closure members having portions thereofinserted one in each end of the tubular member. the outer surfaces ofsaid closure mem ber portions coinciding in contour with the inside ofthe flared. edges, the portions of the closure members extending beyondthe tube being tapered to form with the flared edges of the tube an ularperipheral flanges, and clamps, having their inner surfaces coincidingwith those of the flanges, positioned on said flanges, and means fortightening the clamps to secure the closure members in position on theends of the tubular member,

ROBERT KASER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 446,364 Peacock Feb. 10, 1891901,837 Russell Oct. 20, 1908 937,437 Halstead et :al Oct. 19, 19091,526,309 Hof Feb. 10, 1925 1,838,636 Reid Dec. 27, 1931 1,875,068 MalbyAug. 30, 1932 2,165,052 Hering July 4, 1939 2,169,395 Rheem Aug. 15,1939 2,381,869 Amrhein et a1 Aug. i l, 1945

